1)

What did Yosef see in the chief butler's dream that prompted him to give a favorable interpretation - bearing in mind that dreams are fulfilled according to their interpretation?

1.

Targum Yonasan: In the first half of his dream, the three branches represented (a) the three Avos, 1 Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, whose children were destined to slave in cement and bricks and all kinds of hard work in the fields 2 and (b) the three redeemers (Moshe, Aharon and Miriam); 3 whereas in the second half, his squeezing out the grapes into the cup of Pharaoh represented the cup of punishment that Pharaoh would ultimately be made to drink. And the favorable interpretation was a reward for the favorable dream that he had dreamt about Yisrael.

2.

Moshav Zekenim (to 40:19): A vine has roots and lasts - this shows that the butler will survive and be strengthened. The baker saw baked goods - even if one puts them in a storehouse, they spoil and deteriorate by themselves, so Yosef thought that he will not survive.


1

See also Ba'al ha'Turim. Moshav Zekenim (to 40:10) from Chulin 92a - "k'Forachas Alsah Nitzah" (40:10) alludes to the Imahos. The clusters allude to the Shevatim.

2

The chief bakers' dream also alluded to this, but not to the subsequent redemption. Refer to 40:19:1:1.

3

Da'as Zekenim: Alternatively, they allude to Torah, Nevi'im and Kesuvim.

2)

Why do the three branches represent three days, whereas in Pharaoh's dream (Bereishis 41), the seven sheaves represent seven years?

1.

Ramban: Refer to 40:10:1:2**.

2.

Tosfos ha'Shalem (1, citing Moshav Zekenim): Surely the sheaves must represent years. There cannot be seven days of famine and seven of satiation! However, perhaps the three branches in this dream should mean three years? It seems that Yosef did not know through Nevu'ah, for Berachos 55a learns from here that dreams are fulfilled like the interpretation! Perhaps he knew that in three days is Pharaoh's birthday, and every year he judges on his birthday.

3.

Gur Aryeh: Were the dream to mean that he would be reinstated in three years, he would have seen three separate vines (the yield of each year is a separate entity). Rather, he saw three branches on one vine, which means three units within one year. The agricultural year is a solar cycle, and the only other solar unit is the 24-hour day. (The month, on the other hand, is a lunar cycle, while the week is not indicated by the luminaries at all. 1 )


1

Nor is counting of weeks mentioned among the luminaries' functions in Bereishis 1:14. (Rather, the seven-day week is a tradition since Ma'aseh Bereishis, with Shabbos at each week's culmination for Am Yisrael alone). (CS)

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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